Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/153582
THE BUSINESS jobs through established trucking companies. Rick is a third-generation truck driver – both his father and grandfather were on the road for almost 40 years. However, no one in his family had ever owned their own truck or run their own company. "Rick said that this was what he wanted to do. He wanted to buy a truck and I said OK. Ever since we got married, I have always been like a cheerleader, encouraging Rick," says Laura. Three weeks later, the couple sat down at the bank to borrow the money for their first Volvo truck. "I love telling this story," says Rick with a smile. "I signed the agreement immediately, while Laura hesitated, looked up at me and said 'Do you actually know what you're doing?'" "And Rick said, 'Just sign! Sign the papers!'" says Laura. "But it really was so odd that I asked him to explain how an old second-hand truck could cost $65,000?" "I was so eager to get out of there and start making money," says Rick, smiling. Two weeks later, they returned to the bank to borrow money for a second truck. Eight months after that, it was time once again. But despite their three trucks, debts were huge and the profit was still not sufficient. In contrast, Rick and Laura found themselves at a crossroads: sell or keep investing in the company? Rick Hernandez never keeps a truck for more than three to four years in order to give his customers and drivers the best transport solutions that the market has to offer. They chose to invest, and it was from Jan. 25, 2004, that Mustang Express took off in earnest – both as a successful trucking company and as a family-operated establishment. Rick's parents saw success and determination in Ricks plans and took out a second mortgage on their house to support the company. Also, Rick and Laura's son, Josh, started working there. "Josh knew nothing about trucks or the industry, but we threw him in at the deep end! He simply had to learn to swim – we had no plans to sink," says Laura emphatically. Josh did learn how to swim, and he is still working for Mustang Express. At one point, he left the company to study medicine, but, after six "My motto is 'You are never better than your latest delivery.' I demand this of my trucks and I demand it of my drivers." R ICK HER NANDEZ, OWNER OF MUSTANG EXPR ESS 34 DRIVER 'S DIGEST #2/2013 VTM_2_13_US_en.indb 36 DDQ213PG010-19_30-31_Common Pages.indd 34 2013-08-13 11:04 8/13/13 8:57 AM VTM_2_13